Babe Ruth, Little League all-stars begin play soon 06-28-09

Published 7:00 pm, Sunday, June 28, 2009

It's post-season youth baseball time in Plainview for both Optimist Babe Ruth League and Little League.

In Little League, play begins Wednesday for both the 11- and 12-year-old Majors team and the 9- and 10-year-old Minors team. The Majors play in Floydada while the Minors go to Slaton.

Meanwhile, the Babe Ruth League will feature one local tournament for the 10-year-olds. That district tournament, which also will include a local 9-year-old entry, begins July 10.

The 10-year-olds will be shooting to advance to state at North Randall County, Southwest Regionals in Abbeville, La., and finally the World Series in Lamar, Colo. The 9-year-old group has the option to advance to the Southwest Regional invitational tournament in Gulfport, Miss., beginning July 31.

The 11- and 12-year-old all-stars are divided into two groups, both of whom start their district tournaments July 11.

The 60-foot base path team plays in Canyon with a chance to advance to Littlefield, Monticello, Ark., and Winchester, Mass. The 70-foot basepath squad begins in North Randall County with eyes on Seminole, Springdale, Ark., and Aberdeen, Md.

The 13-year-old group plays its district tournament in Hereford beginning July 11. They'll be shooting for tournament invites in Levelland, Bentonville, Ark., and Murray, Utah.

Finally, the 14- and 15-year-olds are aiming to get to the World Series in Longview, Wash. They'll start that trek by playing the district tournament in Dimmitt beginning July 11. State is in Canyon and Southwest Regionals in Siloam Springs, Ark.